Here is Roger Christie’s response to that article according to Cannabis Culture:

1.) Why I live and breathe and work and fight for sacramental Cannabis is because it’s MY TRUTH. My truth leads me to my actions in this big and important part of my life. I knew the risk of being public with my sacramental use. I remain steadfast in my personal and professional spiritual/religious convictions.

2.) a. I’m not a “self-styled Minister”, I was trained and lived as a Practitioner in Religious Science for six years. Then I joined the Religion of Jesus Church in Hawai’i, a church that has multiple stipulations from Hawaii State courts as being “bona fide” where its members were “sincere in their use of marijuana as a sacrament”. Hawaii v. Shields, and Hawaii v. Adler, etc.

b. After being a member of the Religion of Jesus Church for seven years I was ordained as a Minister to further the mission and the teachings. I created the THC Ministry as a non-demoninational organization according to my evolving personal spirituality.

c. My ordainment was legal enough for the State of Hawaii to license me for life specifically as a “Cannabis sacrament” Minister to perform the marriage ceremony. It’s the first such designation in the USA that I’m aware of, and that state recognition effectively legitimized my ordainment and my mission.

d. As a Minister I perform legal weddings, conduct baptisms, funerals, and offer counseling and communion fellowship with members. Try performing a funeral for three hundred people in a large family ohana in Hawai’i and then tell me you’re not a real Minister.

3.) a. I sought recognition (Declaratory Relief and Permanent Injunction) in the US Federal Courts in 2004 when I told them in writing that I operated a therapeutic Cannabis Ministry requiring large amounts of Cannabis in order to make the holy anointing oil and tinctures, etc. I didn’t ask their permission, as the Creator gave me the right to do this. I asked that they respect my Ministry rights according to the letter and spirit of the Constitution and the law. They let me operate for over four happy years after that constructive notice with zero investigation on their part.

b. I feel I’m in a better position now because I’m not asking for anything from the prohibitionist US government except a fair trial with a jury of my peers to decide if I’m guilty or innocent of the charges against me beyond a reasonable doubt. Could I win? Of course I could! What would that look like? Immunity from prosecution to operate the THC Ministry.

I’m putting my faith and my life in the hands of the jury system of the USA to nullify the charges against me. See www.fija.org for details.

4.) I only know of one other person in jail in the THC Ministry. This member of ours lost his case because the Judge refused to hear his religious defense. The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth was NOT allowed to be heard in that court.

I have heard so many rumors and things about the Roger Christie marijuana drug bust that I just want folks to know what is really going on and not what is being reported in the papers from what I know as the “average joe blow”.

I’m tired of holding onto the actual transcripts as to why Roger Christie of the THC Ministry should be held in Federal Prison without bail so here it is… (why the newspapers don’t release this information is beyond me)

…Michael Ruggles, 53, has filed a civil lawsuit against the county, seeking $4.5 million for “monetary damages and personal duress.” His lawsuit names 10 county officials, but Ruggles lays special blame at the feet of former vice officer John Weber…

From the paperwork I saw… it’s only 9 people total.

This makes sense to me as each county employee is insured up to $500,000.

Nine employees times $500,000 equals $4.5 Million if my numbers are correct.

Some folks have said… geez, why sue the county when the county is broke? Well, each county employee is insured for acts that are covered by their lack of county protocol for up to $500,000.

Sounds to me like there was a lack of protocol and Mr. Ruggles is allowed his day in court to prove that.

I have known Mike on and off for the last decade or so as we were both elected as Student Governor Senators for HawCC and he is one of the most honest guys I know.

I know he has arthritis and gout, I know, that he has a card for smoking dope, and I also think I know him well enough to know that he wouldn’t do something stupid to put his life in jeopardy.

I truly think that Mr. Ruggles has every right to sue the county for what he is suing them for.

If our police can’t abide by the rules and protect law abiding citizens… who should we turn to?

I mentioned the other day that there was a pending lawsuit against the county, last night I asked Mayor Kenoi’s office about the pending lawsuit and this is what Public Information Specialist Hunter Bishop’s response was:

Damon,

We received a copy of a First Amended Complaint that was filed with the Court. We have turned the matter over to the Office of Corporation Counsel, which handles all legal matters for the County. We expect that they will respond appropriately in Court.

“..To answer your question, unfortunately, there is an attorney who is working on your side, and I have just been served, so I can’t comment on anything,” Kubojiri said, an apparent reference to a lawsuit against the police, the county, Kubojiri, Mahuna, Mayor Billy Kenoi and others filed by Michael Ruggles, who was present at the meeting…”

It is my understanding that a person who uses marijuana medicinally has filed a 4.5 million dollar lawsuit against Mayor Kenoi, Former Mayor Harry Kim, Hawaii Police Officer Webber and 5 others on April 8th, 2010 relating to a raid made at a house that was growing marijuana for medicinal purposes and they had the medical cards to prove it.

Mr. Jay Kimura, Prosecuting Attorney for Hawaii County has a budget of 9 million dollars to prosecute and convict Hawaii residents. He’s continuing to use public funds to prosecute cases which are defined as ‘adult personal use’, involving 24 or fewer plants and 24 or fewer ounces on private property.

It’s a shame. Not only that, it’s against the law. Mr. Kimura is saying he doesn’t have to obey The Lowest Law Enforcement Priority of Cannabis Ordinance.

What about the 35,000 voters who made sure it passed into law Mr. Kimura? They are the ones who pay your salary. We think you should show a little more respect.

Hawaii Cannabis Ministry founder and director summarizes the new law that went into effect last November. This new law allows private citizens to grow up to 24 plants and to have up to 24 ounces in their possession (at home for private use).

The Hawaii House today advanced a bill that would issue cannabis distribution stamps to participants in the state’s medical marijuana program…

…Under the program, a farmer puts up some land for secure growing facilities and a certified facilitator serves as the go-between from farmer to user. Users are issued stamps at a cost of no more than 50 cents per gram of marijuana…